Buffing wheel and method of making same



Jan. 18, 1955 e. A. LYON BUF'FING WHEEL AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Sept. 16, i950 fizz 2172271" 660/396 Alew ZLLJOZZ 4w WA,

United States Patent 2,699,632 BUFFING WHEEL AlglD METHOD OF MAKING George Albert Lyon, Detroit, Mich.

Application September 16, 1950, Serial No. 185,305

Claims. (Cl. 51-193) This invention relates to abrading or buffing wheels of the type used in polishing articles, such as circular discs or wheel covers.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved buffing wheel and a simplified way of making the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide a buffing wheel wherein all of the strip buffing material used in fabricating same can be employed without any waste.

Another object of this invention is to provide a buffing wheel and a method of making the same wherein the application of the strip buffing material to a support automatically provides the desired contour of buffing surface.

In accordance with the general features of this invention, there is provided in a method of making a bufiing wheel, which includes a supporting member on which a buffing surface is provided, having on its lateral side a buffing surface, the steps of spirally coiling over and on the surface of said member a strip of buffing material, coiled from the center outwardly to the periphery of the member with one edge of the strip resting on said surface, and securing the coiled strip on the member with the other and outer edge of the coiled strip defining a buffing surface.

Another feature of the invention relates to providing in a bufling wheel a coiled strip in a cup shaped member, the bottom of which member is pre-shaped into an irregular contour conforming generally with the surface contour of the object to be buffed so that the outer edge of the strip wound on top of the bottom will take the same shape.

Another feature of the invention relates to the provision of a buffing wheel comprising a circular cup shaped member including a peripheral wall and a bottom with a surface of a curved contour inside said wall and a strip of tucked bufiing material coiled from the center outwardly inside the cup member on said bottom, the outer surface of the coil strip conforming to the curvature of the bottom and the wall assisting in holding the coiled strip in the cup member.

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a single embodiment of the invention, and in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of a tucked and stitched strip of buffing material prior to coiling;

Figure 2 is a plan view of my buffing wheel after the strip has been coiled and secured therein; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line III-III of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and showing by dotted lines how the surface of an object to be buffed can be nested over the butting surface of the wheel during the buffing operation.

As shown on the drawing:

It is believed that my novel method of making a buffing wheel will be fully understood from a description of the wheel, as illustrated in the drawing.

The reference character designates generally a continuous strip of bufiing material made from any suitable cloth, such, for example, as cotton drill cloth, preferably cut on the bias. This strip is made up of a plurality of layers such, for example, as 3 or 4, held together by stitching 11 extending lengthwise of the strip adjacent one edge of the same.

2,699,632 Patented Jan. 18, 1955 After the strip has been stitched, it is put in a conventional tucking machine so as to provide tucks or folds 12. The strip is then in condition to be coiled on the body of the wheel, which, as shown in Figure 3, comprises a member formed of two parts 15 and 16. These two parts, when secured together, define a cup shaped member for receiving the buffing strip 10.

The part 15 defines inside of the cup member a curved bottom surface 17 which is of a contour generally conforming with that of the surface of an article to be buffed. For illustration, if the article is an automobile wheel cover such as that shown by dot and dash line at 25, the surface 17 would have the contour of the external surface of the cover 25.

in making up the wheel the stitched edge of the strip 10 is coiled on the surface 17 prior to the attachment of the part 16 to part 15. Any suitable means may be employed for attaching part 16 to part 15 such, for example, as cap screws or bolts 18. The strip is coiled from the center, as shown in Figure 2, in spiral form radially outwardly on the circular member 15 and on top of the curved bottom surface 17.

Inasmuch as the surface 17 on which the strip 10 is coiled edgewise is of a curved contour, the other edge of the strip will assume the same contour as shown at 20. When the strip is wound so that it substantially covers the surface 17 with the exception of a slight peripheral margin thereof, the part 16 can be attached to the part 15 for holding the strip in place. It will be noted that the part 16 has an inwardly projecting annular flange 19 for overhanging or lapping the outer turn of the coiled strip.

it is to be understood that prior to the coiling of the strip, it may be coated with a suitable cementitious material for adhering the turns together after coiling. While the sides of the strip may be completely coated, a good bond is obtainable if it is at least coated in the area of the stitching 11.

After the two parts 15 and 16 are secured together with the coil strip in the cup shaped recess defined by the same, the outer surface 20 may be slightly dressed if the same is necessary to have it conform better to the surface of the cover 25. It should be noted that this wheel cover 25 has projecting rearwardly from it retaining fingers 26 shown in dotted lines which do not in any way come in contact with the buffing surface 30.

Inasmuch as the cupped member comprising the parts 15 and 16 constitutes a wheel, any suitable means such as a stud shaft 21 may be provided on the part 15 for attaching this wheel to the rotary head of a bufiing machine with the surface exposed for contact by the article 25 to be buffed.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

1 claim as my invention:

1. As an article of manufacture, a surface-treating wheel comprising a cup shaped supporting member in cluding a peripheral flange like wall about a backing having a surface inside the wall of irregular shape conforming generally to that of the contour of an object to be treated, a continuous strip of treating material of uniform width coiled edgewise on said surface from the center outwardly toward said peripheral wall and secured in coil form on said surface so that the outer operative face of the strip conforms generally to the shape of said surface, said peripheral wall having an in wardly projecting annular flange for overlapping an outer turn of the coil strip to assist in holding the coiled strip on said surface.

2. As an article of manufacture, a surface-treating wheel assembly comprising a cup-shaped supporting member including a peripheral flange-like wall about a surface inside the wall of irregular shape conforming generally to that of the contour of an object to be treated, a continuous strip of treatingmaterial of uniform width comprising cotton cloth cut on the bias in a plurality of superimposed layers stitched together in pleated condition and with the stitching adjacent to one edge of the strip, said strip being wound spirally from the center upon said surface in close conformity of said edge of the western treating material of uniform widthcoiled edgewise on said surface from the centeroutwardly toward saidperipheral wall, and secured in coil form on said surface,

'said*pe'ripheral wall 'having an inwardly projecting annular flange foroverlapping the outer operative face of an outer turn ofthejcoil strip to assist in holding the coiled strip onsa'id surface.

4. As an articleof manufacture, a surface-treating wheel comprising 'a support'ingmember adapted for rotation in service and havingan axially directed end face providing a backing surface including an annular hump portion and a recessed portion inwardly of said hump portion, a'contin'uous coiled strip of treating material of uniform width disposed edgewise relative to said surface, said strip'being coiled tightly from the center outwardly to said hump portion and secured in coil form on said surface, said hump portionbeing generally complemental to the corresponding portion of the article to be treated whereby when the article and operative face of thewheel are moved together, the pressure of the article on the operative 'face of the coil inwardly of the hump portion will tend to wedge the strip inwardly in compactly coiled relation to'present a firm operative face,"said backing "surface further including a recessed portion outwardly of saidhump portionsupporting an outer portion of said coiled strip, and a peripheral wall outwardly o f'said last mentioned recessed 'portionjand of height at least equal to the width of said strip and containing said strip in coiled form on said last mentioned recessed portion. 1;

5. As an article of manufacture, a surface-treating wheel comprising a supporting member adapted for rotation in service and having an axially directed end face providing a backing surface including an annular hump portion and a recessedpo'rtioninwardly of said hump portion, a continuous coiled. strip of treating material of uniform width disposed edgewiserelative to said surface, said strip being coiledti'ghtly from the center outwardly to said hu'r'npiportionand secured in coil form on said surface, said hump portion being generally complemental to the corresponding'portion of the article to be treated whereby w hen the, article and operative face of the wheel are moved't'ogether, the pressure of the article on the operative face of the coil inwardly of the hump portion will tend to wedge the strip inwardly in compactly coiled relation to presentha firm operative face, said'backing'surface further including a recessed portion outwardly of said hump portion supporting an outer portion .of said coiled strip, and a peripheral wall' outwardly of said last mentioned recessed portion and of height at least e'qualfto the width of said strip and containing said strip in coiled form on said last mentioned recessed portion, saidv wall having an in'wardly projecting annular flange lockingly overlapping the outer operative edge of an outer turn of the coiled'strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 691,066 ltMiller Jan, 14,1902 1,668,084 uOliver May 1, 1928 2,290,098 lField July 14, 1942 2,335,902 .Ball et a1 Dec. 7, 1943 2,427,137 Hall Sept. 9, 1947 

